Usually, when we think of the places to visit in Dubai, we expect parks, restaurants and hotels in Dubai or shopping centers in Dubai to fill all our time with fun and the taste of travel. Maybe you, like me, did not think that the nature of Dubai is one of those pristine natures where you can have fun, do different things, and experience the Dubai desert as one of these beautiful and pristine natures of the United Arab Emirates.
If you close your eyes for a few seconds and think about the deserts of Dubai, which is surrounded by the beach, the sea and the mountains, it can promise you a fun trip without any shortages, along with desert travel in Dubai. Now, I will write for you in this article what exactly are the entertainments and facilities in the Dubai desert…
Dubai desert, an international tourist destination
Dubai actually came out of the heart of the desert and right now, the deserts of Dubai are giving rise to deserts, but one of the most famous deserts in Dubai is Al-Qadra Desert, which has an area of 10 hectares and is 30 kilometers from Dubai city.
In 2015, the construction project of Al-Qadra Lake was completed. After that, they drew part of the water of the Persian Gulf there and made a big lake in the heart of the desert. In addition to attracting migratory birds to this ecosystem, this lake has become a good excuse to attract tourists in these years.
This desert and Al Qadra Lake are very suitable and popular as one of Dubai’s sightseeing spots for picnicking and seeing different animal species of the desert region, camel riding, cycling and off-road competitions.
Al-Qadra Lake in Dubai includes about 130 species of birds such as Iblis Baraq, Caspian plover, sanderling, eagle and falcon and other species whose lives depend on this ecosystem.
Of course, the United Arab Emirates government has imposed heavy penalties and strictures for dumping garbage and lighting fires and barbeques around these lakes and the Dubai desert in order to protect the newly established fragile ecosystem from the risk of destruction and pollution.
Be prepared for the Dubai desert weather!
Since Dubai is a desert city in the UAE, don’t doubt that warm and sunny weather and hot days are waiting for you there. For example, the hottest months of Dubai desert weather are between May and September, when the temperature reaches above 40 degrees and the probability of rain in the surrounding areas of the desert is almost zero.
But not all days in Dubai are so hot and burning! You can expect milder weather in the Dubai desert, which mostly happens in December, January and February is among the coolest months in Dubai. Of course, we must be aware that by cool we mean cooler than 40 degrees Celsius, otherwise the temperature of the Dubai desert often does not fall below 23 degrees.
The months of February and March are considered to be the mild months of the Dubai desert, which can be suitable months for desert tourism and desert entertainment.
Dubai desert, a sanctuary for migratory birds
Near Dubai, between the burning desert and the Dubai desert, there is a national park and protected reserve of the Dubai desert, which has an area of 225 square kilometers and is the first national park in Dubai, which was established by Mohammed Rashid Al Maktoum.
Despite the desert animal and plant species, this area has become one of the attractive tourist destinations for desert tours in the United Arab Emirates. The Dubai Nature Reserve was once a camel farm, but Rashed Al Maktoum, inspired by South Africa’s national parks, tried to revive this desert area. It is interesting to know that this region constitutes 5% of the entire United Arab Emirates.
Since the restoration and establishment of Dubai National Park, more than 6,000 trees have been planted and the ecosystem of grasses and shrubs has been strengthened to feed camels. The animal species of the Dubai desert are generally considered to be resistant animals that have adapted and survived the intense heat of the Dubai desert for many years.
From the animal species of the Dubai desert protected reserve, we can mention mammals such as sand fox, caracal, sand cat, Arabian sharp-horned, brown desert hare, desert rodents and mice, Persian hedgehog, desert hedgehog, Etruscan insectivore, bats, etc.
Among the natural reptiles of desert, we can mention the boa snake, Afro-Asian sand snake, desert horned viper, horned viper, bearded finger lizard, yellow-bellied domestic gecko, Mediterranean domestic lizard, Iranian rock gecko, skankur, worm lizard, etc.
Even though the Dubai desert is a hot and desert area and it is difficult to expect vegetation there, they have a spectacular and interesting diversity in their own way, trees such as Iranian mesquite, umbrella acacia, Senegal Senegal, date palm, kanaar, etc. You can also find desert hyacinth, arafaj, tavousi, astbraq, sand pea, miwak tree, diokhar and medicinal plants such as spider flower and roman esfand.
Good times in the Dubai desert
In contrast to the hot and dry nature of the Dubai desert, the activities are very diverse and exciting. In fact, if our tourism destination is Dubai, it is better to say that if we do not include desert travel in Dubai as part of our leisure plans, we will easily miss half of the excitement of this trip and one of the best places to visit in Dubai.
Also, if you are not into any of these special entertainments, you can watch the desert sunset with music, dance and Arab hookah in some parts of the Dubai desert and experience a different taste of the desert with traditional Dubai food.
Dubai desert villages, a journey into the depth of desert life
If the travelers choose half-day and one-day desert tours in Dubai, maybe it would be better and easier to immerse them in the culture and customs of Dubai and create a happy memory for them. Usually, these trips cover different areas from the desert to the mountains and show the breeding of camels and goats in the fields and villages of Dubai.
These desert villages of Dubai, which are located like Arabian jewels in the heart of the Persian Gulf, from traditional clothing and food to camel and goat breeding farms and their music, bring us with the eastern spirit of the Middle East.
Hatta village, a thousand-year-old area of the Dubai desert
About an hour’s drive from Dubai city, we reach the historic village of Hatta, where an old house, which is now a Hatta hotel, can be a suitable place for tourists to stay. Seeing such a beautiful area in the desert is like finding the shining jewel of the desert nestled in the heart of a mountain.
On our way to Hatta village, we pass through sand dunes and colorful mountains, we see the restored old Arab forts and feel the desert nature, how alive and dynamic it covers the whole route. It is impossible to drive to Hatta village and not visit the Friday mosque of this village, which is hidden in the date gardens.
It is said that the history of this village dates back to 2,000 to 3,000 years ago. Its old houses are sometimes built only with stones, and all the stones are brought from the bottom of the deep valley and stacked on top of each other. This village was built on top of Hajar mountain and was also known as “Al-Hajreen” in ancient times.
Hatta Dubai historical village, which is an attraction to attract international tourists, hosts events such as Dubai National Day, Dubai Shopping Festival and Dubai Flag Day. Even in terms of access, the Dubai bus line has made access to this area easier than before.
Experience swimming in the heart of the Dubai desert!
Just imagine that under the heat of the desert sky, you can be in a place that, in addition to shade and coolness, has a swimming pool and running water, so that the depth of the pleasure of this adventure will be sweet to the taste of every traveler. A day tour to Dubai’s Fujairah area will take you through the rocky hills of mountains and valleys that will finally bring you to Dubai’s Khorafkan Port where you can enjoy the beautiful Arabian beach and swimming in the South Sea.
Due to the fact that the valleys of the Dubai desert are close to the mountains and formed there due to the winter rains, it will surprise you with its greenery even in the heart of the desert. Usually in these valleys there are large and attractive stone pools that have water all year round and are surrounded by greenery.
Sandboarding or skiing on the sand!
One of the fun activities in the Dubai desert that is attractive and new for tourists is sandboarding or sand skating. Of course, various tours are organized to experience this desert fun, among them the 4×4 tour is one of the specialized sandboarding tours in Dubai.
It is not a problem if the sandboard is not available for sandboarding in the Dubai desert; Because a company called Dream Explorer also rents sandboards to travelers in Dubai. Sandboarding or skiing on sand is just like skiing on snow, except that tourists can slide down from the top of the highest sand dunes and have fun and finally land on soft and warm sand. Therefore, the risk of vulnerability will be much lower than ice skiing.
Safari and motorcycle riding in the heart of the desert
If we want to increase our blood adrenaline a little during this trip, we should go for the Dubai desert safari and motorcycle riding in the desert. Of course, if we participate in the Dubai desert motorcycle tours, we can enjoy the experience of driving and soaring over the sands of the Dubai desert and its hills as a group.
Of course, the only point about motorcycle riding and safari with Toyota Land Cruiser in the Dubai desert is that the price of this part of the Dubai desert entertainment is a little more expensive than the others and the risk of doing it is higher. But its excitement may not be comparable to others.
Take desert photos!
Another feature of the pristine nature of the desert is exploring with Dubai desert tours and photographing natural landscapes such as the desert sunset, large sand dunes and caravans of camel riders, and various activities that are held in the desert.
Go mountain climbing in the desert! The story of Hajar mountain range
The Hajar mountain range, which continues from Oman to the shores of the United Arab Emirates, is divided into three central, eastern and western parts.
In the twists and turns of the Hajar mountain range of Dubai, there are small villages that shine on the slopes of this mountain. There are also many hiking trails due to the existence of these villages in the Hajar mountain range, which tourists can cover this distance more easily.
The western Hajar mountain range is located next to the coast like “Sahl Batane” and the highest peak of this mountain range reaches 3075 meters. Among the beauties of this mountain, we can mention the greenness of the mountain slopes with citrus fruits and date palm plantations, as well as its sweet water wells.
Tanora dance next to the tent and the fire
Tanura dance is one of the special and traditional Arab dances that you can enjoy watching by the fire and under the crazy starry sky of the desert when you are sitting under the tent and umbrellas of the Dubai desert on the flowing sand.
Apply henna
Suppose we are sitting next to the fire and the stars are floating in the sky and the sound of Arabic instruments and tanura belly dance, as if it has brought the stories of the thousand and one nights to life. Now we can paint our hands with Arabic henna and wake up at night like the people of the desert.
Camel riding in the desert camel farms of Dubai
In the Dubai desert, one of the most common phenomena that you can see around the villages is the camel farms where you can ride a camel, take a souvenir photo and see the caravan of camels slowly climbing up the sand and their voices ringing in the silence of the desert.
Al Badiya Mosque, the oldest mosque in Dubai
In the northern part of the city of Fujairah, in the village of Badiya in the district of Dibba, the oldest mosque in Dubai, called the Masjid Al Badiya, is located, which is also considered one of the most famous mosques in the world. This mosque is built on the slopes of Hajar Mountain so that the altar of the mosque is connected to the lower part of the mountain from the outside. At the top of the same part of the mountain where the Al-Badiyeh Mosque was built, there are two historical and old watchtowers.
Al-Badiyeh Mosque in Dubai is known as an Ottoman mosque, and some even estimate the age of the mosque as a thousand years before Islam. But the result of archaeological research has shown that Al-Badiyeh Mosque was built in 1446 AD (17th century). The architecture of this mosque is built with four domes whose sizes are not equal to each other, along with a large dome as a base for these four domes.
The internal size of this mosque is small and its capacity is only 20 people, and the rest of the people generally fit in its courtyard. But the irregular shape and special architecture of this mosque is the biggest attraction of this historical building. The walls are decorated with toothed carvings and there are vents for the entry of light and air on the walls.
The mosque is built of stone in a rectangular courtyard. In the courtyard of the mosque, which is the area outside it, up to 50 worshipers can easily fit; Of course, the outer courtyard was added to the mosque later, and the height of its walls is not more than one and a half meters.
The best time for desert trekking in Dubai
Due to the fact that Dubai has a hot and desert nature, the air temperature in most months of the year usually reaches above 25 degrees Celsius. Some of the months of the year, such as January, February, March and December, are considered to be the coolest months in Dubai and even the rainiest.
For this reason, perhaps the best time to visit is winter and spring; That is, from March to May, when the weather is less hot and various festivals are held during these times, and you can easily go to the heart of the desert with Dubai desert tours and safaris.
What equipment should we take for a trip to the Dubai desert?
In general, desert trekking and going into the heart of the desert, like any other special nature (mountaineering, forest climbing, etc.), requires special facilities and equipment, some of which are provided by tours and some of which we need to provide or rent.
Camping equipment such as a light travel tent, special tent bases to sink into the sand, a sleeping bag suitable for desert nights, strong and suitable shoes, cool and light clothes for desert days and warm clothes for nights are essential for a trip to the Dubai without which you cannot be comfortable. He worked in the desert.
Now where is the Dubai desert in the Emirates?
The desert of Dubai, the vast part of which is the desert of Al-Qadra, is located near the city of Dubai and between the Hajar Mountains and the Persian Gulf.
trip to Dubai desert; Journey to the heart of a thousand and one nights
When it comes to traveling to Dubai, our hearts are usually filled with the experience of shopping in the various and large centers of Dubai, luxury hotels and huge buildings of the city of Dubai, but maybe we have thought less about the desert in Dubai.
In recent years, the Dubai desert has attracted many tourists from all over the world because of the variety of entertainment and facilities that they put in it and the abundance of various half-day and one-day sightseeing tours. How is it possible to travel to the Emirates knowing all the charms of the Dubai desert and not experience safari and motorcycle riding, sand skiing, recreational accommodations and dancing by the fire and traditional food!
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